Emmet County faced over $500,000 in delinquent EMS accounts. They hired RSI to recover lost revenue while maintaining a compassionate, resident-first approach.
A Sustainable Revenue Win for Emmet County
Like many local governments, Emmet County, Michigan faced a growing challenge of unpaid Emergency Medical Services (EMS) bills. Over time, these unpaid accounts stacked up, creating a $500,000 backlog and threatening the financial stability of essential emergency services. In the context of growing fiscal pressures, local government agencies can use all the support to drive efficiency and balance the books.
Emmet County’s EMS agency had no dedicated collections team. And the County’s old collection agency wasn’t recovering what officials thought they should. Staff members did what they could, but their focus remained on saving lives, not chasing down overdue payments. As Lynne Wisehart, President of RSI Enterprises, explained, “Unless you're a large government entity or a large county, the majority of them don't have their own collection units. They may try to collect past due accounts, but they also have a million other tasks.”
Rather than allowing the debt to continue growing, Emmet County made a strategic decision. They partnered with RSI, a trusted supplier available through TXShare, to recover lost revenue while maintaining a compassionate, resident-first approach. RSI began as a collection agency in 1986 and has expanded into one of the fastest growing receivables management companies in the country. In recent years, RSI has been responsible for managing the professional, ethical, and successful recovery of several hundred thousand accounts, totaling billions of dollars, for a vast array of clients in several different industries. With offices in the Phoenix and Washington DC Metro areas, RSI is positioned to provide the highest level of customer service for its clients nationwide.
A Strategic and Compassionate Approach to Recovering Delinquent EMS Accounts
RSI took on the challenge, reviewing more than 1,000 delinquent accounts and planning for an additional 400 to 500 cases per year over the next three years. The company’s experience in government debt recovery meant they could handle the workload with ease (another RSI client processes over 1,700 accounts per month).
Unlike traditional collections agencies that rely on aggressive tactics, RSI approached the situation with understanding. Their team focused on educating residents about their outstanding balances and even offering case-based personalized payment plans that fit individual financial situations. They emphasized clear communication, flexibility, and a commitment to ensuring that no one was forced into undue hardship.
For Emmet County, the partnership was a win-win. RSI worked on a contingency basis, meaning they only got paid when they successfully recovered funds. “That's the nice thing about the nature of collections,” Wisehart noted. “We don't get paid unless we collect. So the client’s not out any money.”
Results That Make a Difference
Over the course of their work with RSI, Emmet County recovered around $25,000 in delinquent EMS bills - about 4.5% of their total outstanding EMS debts - that went directly back into the County-run EMS agency. This infusion of revenue helped ensure that emergency services remained well-funded and prepared to serve residents in their times of greatest need.
Beyond the immediate financial benefit, the county also gained a sustainable system for managing EMS collections moving forward. RSI’s ongoing outreach prevents new backlogs from forming, ensuring that revenue keeps flowing into essential services without the burden falling solely on county staff.
By taking a proactive, innovative approach, Emmet County turned a financial challenge into a success story. And now, thanks to TXShare and Civic Marketplace, other local governments have an easy way to replicate that success.
A TXShare Cooperative Contract Makes It Even Easier
TXShare, the cooperative purchasing program of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, developed a Request for Proposal and executed a contract with RSI so that other agencies could easily utilize their services to see similar revenue recovery. And since TXShare executed the contract, agencies can confidently utilize it, knowing it was vetted and is 100% legally compliant, saving significant time and money along the way.
Awarding through TXShare contracts:
- Alleviates administrative burdens
- Gives governments across the country rapid access to quality contracts and suppliers
- Reduces time and cost to receive services and products
- Offers competitive volume pricing rates
- Ensures high-quality service delivery
- Provides 100% legal compliance
This RSI awarded TXShare contract, and many more like it, are available on Civic Marketplace, your ally in the purchasing process! To learn more, schedule a consultation.
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